*Hey there.
If you actually pay attention to Author's Notes, you will see here that today's my fifteenth birthday. And if you didn't read this author's note, you're out of the loop.
Well either way, enjoy the story. This will be very interesting.*
House Hunting
Emma gathered all the things she would need for the day out of the coat closet. Juliet's stroller and coat. Henry's coat, as well as her own. Snow's and James's coats as well. All before she fixed coffee and got out mugs, pulled up her hair, and fixed toaster waffles for Henry. With a squeal from Juliet from her crib on the opposite side of the apartment, Emma came running and carried her into the kitchen. "Come on, Julie, you hungry?" Emma asked as she grabbed the jar of baby food she set out earlier. "Apples, your favorite." Which was a lie, of course. Juliet didn't like apples.
Snow woke up and sprawled out on her bed, looking at the Charming man lying beside her. He smiled at her as he ran his fingers through her ruffled bangs. "Wake up, sleepyhead." He sang to her, both amorously and humorously, leaving both of them with a smile. Snow looked at him and moved herself closer to kiss him, when she pulled away and ran into the bathroom. He followed after when he heard her throwing up.
"I'm sure this is easier when I don't have all that hair falling in my face." She said as she sat up and flushed the toilet. "Isn't it, Charming?"
"Snow, this isn't a joking matter." He stated sternly as she looked up at him innocently. "Are you alright?"
"Morning sickness is a killer, eh, James?" She stood and looked at him. His jaw dropped a little, listening to what she was saying.
"Snow, you think you're pregnant?" He asked quietly, she chuckled a little.
"I know I am, James." She replied sweetly. "That's part of why we're going house hunting."
Emma appeared in the doorway. "I fixed coffee and waffles, when you guys are ready for breakfast..." Emma looked at her mother, then to her father. Neither of them changed expressions, just kind of stared at Emma awkwardly. "What, is something wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong." Snow spat instinctively and probably a little harsher than she meant it. "Sorry, dear, we will be in for breakfast in a few minutes."
Emma didn't turn to walk out like they expected. Instead she went to sit on their bed, and both of them sat on either side of her. "And now I have a feeling you're going to tell me what nothing really is, right daddy?" James cracked a little under his daughter's puppy dog eyes.
"Emma, darling, your mom and I... we're expecting another baby." James said slowly. He didn't know how Emma would take it. She was their only child. He knew that she was older, but somewhere deep down he knew she would be jealous. But she didn't seem to change expressions at all. She just looked at Snow, then back at James, and Snow again.
"Mom, I'm so happy for you." Emma gave Snow a quick hug, then looked her in the eyes. "I take it we will be looking for a house with many more bedrooms?"
"At least more than two." Snow replied kindly. "So let's go get ready for the day, I heard there are waffles there made by my favorite daughter."
...later, James and Henry have a chat while house hunting...
"So grandpa" Henry inquired quietly as they strolled along the empty city sidewalks. Emma and Snow and Juliet had gone in to Granny's to pick up a few sandwiches for lunch. "were you any good with a sword?"
"Not as good as your grandmother." James admitted guiltily, tucking his hands carefully into his pockets. The ten-year-old did the same. "Why?"
"Before we go back to the castle, I'd like to learn a few tricks." Henry used his air-sword to display artificial fighting techniques.
"You'll have to ask Snow. She can do archery, swords, and strategy." James watched as they crossed the street carrying a paper grocery bag and Emma pushing Juliet in the stroller. "She's who you want to ask."
"Mom said that she couldn't help me. Not now, anyways." Henry looked at his grandfather with those beautiful brown eyes. No other Charming had eyes so dark. "Why can't she, grandpa?"
"Snow... she's expecting a baby." James gulped, and you could see a bubbly smile grow in Henry's face.
"So my mom's going to be a big sister?" Henry asked his grandma as they approached. Snow and Emma both looked a little caught off-guard, then Snow just smiled sweetly at Henry.
"Yes she will be, dear." Snow sighed, looking at Emma in hope she'd say something. But Emma said nothing. So Snow continued reluctantly. "And she will be just as great of a big sister as you are a big brother to Juliet."
"Are you happy to be a big sister, mom?" Henry asked hopefully, Emma didn't want to see that look on his face go away. Since Regina was killed, he wasn't as smiley as he was before. And she couldn't blame him.
"Of course, kid." She replied, looking at Snow, who had the same face as Henry at the moment. Undeniable hope. "Were you happy when Juliet was born?"
"At first?" Henry asked. He saw in Emma's green eyes she wanted the cold, hard truth... no matter how hard it hurt. "No." This surprised Emma very deeply. "I felt like you were replacing me, I wasn't in your life. She always will be."
"Henry" Emma whispered. "you will always be my favorite son. Always have been. Nothing will change that."
Henry gave Emma a hug at this deeply sentimental moment, James and Snow looked very proudly at their daughter. And right when you expected happy ending music to play, Juliet started to cry.
...the Charmings find a seven-bedroom five-bathroom house near the toll bridge for sale, which they quickly buy from Rumple...
"Remember, dearie" Rumple snapped as he took the pen from Snow after she signed the agreement. "all contracts come with a price."
"That might've scared me twenty nine years ago but not now." Snow returned sourly. He clicked his tongue at her, making odd hissing and tsk-ing sounds.
"Tis a pity" replied he, as he pulled up his jacket zipper as they exited the new house James now held the key to. "we could work so well together, your majesty, if only you'd learn to fear and be feared."
"That reign of terror is over." James said quickly, stepping between his wife and the magician. "We have our family to protect."
"Absolutely. Wouldn't want any of your daughters getting hurt." Rumple replied smartly, Snow and James exchanged glances.
"Daughters?" James asked, gulping. He knew how bad it was when Rumple knew their future.
"Any?" Snow inquired as well, looking at James with a glimmer in her eyes.
"You will have three daughters by the time we leave Storybrooke, Emma and two others." Rumple explained. "Due around November, so you're pregnant now I take it." James glared at Rumple. "Which you two already knew. Mozel tov."
"How did you...?" Snow asked quietly, pulling Rumple to the side.
"I said I was investing in your future, and I did." He replied smartly. "Now I hope you Charmings packed your things. There's a specific stranger who wants to move in."
...after a long evening of packing, James goes in to Henry's room to see if he's asleep yet...
James started to cut out the main light behind the cracked door, hardly noticing his grandson sitting up in his bed waiting for him. "Grandpa, will you tell me a story?"
"Henry, you really should've been in bed an hour ago. You have school tomorrow." James scolded.
"I know, but I wanted to say goodnight to you first." Henry yawned weakly, his hands running across the blue bedspread. "Mom said you tell excellent stories."
"Your grandma tells better stories." James added, walking over to the boy on the bed. "She could tell you one tomorrow."
"I hear grandma's stories all the time." Henry whined, giving his grandfather the most innocent face he could. "She's still my teacher. I don't always hear your stories."
"Well then I'll tell you just one quick story, then you mister need to get to sleep. If grandma catches you sleeping in class because of me I'm sure to get an earful." Henry smiled as James tucked him all the way under the comforter and sat on the edge of his bed. "Well, after I refused to marry Abigail I was in a dark place. My own father arrested me, he sent me to be executed. A guillotine would be my untimely death, I figured. And just as the blade dropped, it turned to water!" Henry gasped, pretending he hadn't seen the story before. "And then Regina..." James watched the light in Henry's eyes fade to black. "I'm so sorry, Henry, I didn't even think..."
"Grandpa, it's okay." Henry mused, still as sour faced as ever. "I know what she did to you and grandma, and mom even. She did treat me like a son though, evil or not."
"Well, Henry, it's- oh geez- it's ten o'clock!" James exclaimed, looking at Henry's radio alarm clock. "Henry, you have to go to bed, or else Snow won't be the only person angry when you sleep in class! That girl you like..." Henry eyed him suspiciously, surprised he knew who she was.
"Grace." Henry breathed her name, as though the most sacred word on the face of the earth.
"She will notice if you're tired because I kept you up all night." James pointed out, then added nosily. "Grace as in Jefferson's Grace?"
"Goodnight grandpa." Henry finally said, rolling over away from the man. James stood from the boy's bedside to turn off his light and crack the door.
*Adorable and hopefully worth the wait :) can I please get a few more reviews for this chapter than the previous one? Reviews really are the best birthday present, you know.*